Part 17
First, she unbound her hair. Then she stepped out of her slippers. Her breath hitched in her throat then abruptly started coming out in short spasming gasps. Her pulse raced and her heart pounded like thunder against her breast.
She feared he would turn around. His broad shoulders were relaxed but Liz could not be sure that he wouldn't glance back and catch her unclothed. That thought sent her working her fingers at the back of her dress hysterically. If she hurried she could walk across and settle into the tub in just a minute.
When her drawers and chemise were shed she could not help standing there for aminute. In the nude. The soft breeze from the open porthhole caressing her skin while the knowledge that an attractive man was sitting just a few feet awaycaused a red heated flush to creep up her body.
The feelings were dizzying. She was breathless with fear and excitement. The fact that she found the situation erotic...'strong domineering man, captive woman'...was very disconcerting. She was also worrying at the moment about his upredictibility. For he surely was unpredictible. She didn't know if he would turn or not, or when. She only knew that she had to run to the tub.
She didn't run though. That would cause his attention to turn to her, thinking she was escaping out the door...actually she hadn't really thought of that, perhaps she should. Then she looked down at herself. Bad Luck this time my lady, she thought wryly. If she had to risk it, she would end up showing the whole crew an unadulterated view of her naked body and then since there was nowhere to run she would plunge into her watery grave. She chanced a peek at the true danger...
Then again perhaps she was plunging into worse waters-she looked at the tub-shark infested- she looked again to the corner.
She walked cautiously towards the tub until she could feel and see the appealing steam rising. Warming her skin, causing bumps to develop on her arms from the cold, hot air colliding. For a moment at she stared at the delicious water she managed to forget where she was and her situation...now she was only a woman, very much in need of a bath.
"Are you ready?" his voice came out low and made her jump, jerking her back to reality. She panicked for a second, then, as he did not turn around she took a deep breath and stepped into the sweet welcoming water.
She was about to clear her throat sufficiently enough, so her voice wouldn't croak, and say she was when he rose swiftly and turned around. Liz swallowed. His gaze raked her from one end of the rub to the other. His eyes flared with an appreciative gleam.
"Magnificent" he breathed and Liz shivered at his seductive tone.
Max feasted his eyes. Then feasted some more. Magnificent hardly described what lay in full glory, yet hardly modestly hidden by water, was a goddess. Indeed not a tall, golden raving beauty. No. A petite woman. Silken hair or smooth melting choclate, cascading over her shoulders, eyes wide and innocent yet behind that veil lay a molten passion eager to awaken and learn. Her skin not a pearly white or a golden tan. It was a mixture of both. Olive skin perhaps. Smooth skin taut over attractively high cheekbones, a pert little nose and a small yet luscious little mouth. Begging to be kissed.
She was a goddess. A theif that has stolen his money and stolen her way into his life. He did not care about the money anymore. It was all hardly significant but he had wanted her to pay. When he thought her a lad he thought a few lashes would teach him, yet when this woman stood before him he knew that he wanted to punish her with pleasure. Revel in the satisfaction of hearing this rebellious woman scream his name in total esctacy.
His loins tightned at his thoughts and his eyes pierced through her. Ah she was a challange that one. He could take her if he willed but no..A pirate,a plunderer and a thief he may be, but never a murderer or a rapist. His punishment for her was to make her want him. Yes, he thought as his brilliant plan formed in his mind. He would make her want him till she was begging for his touch. He would take her then, lavish her sweet body with his caresses and thrusts. She would scream his name and satisfaction would be his in way of punishment and pleasure.
Watching her now he had to control himself immensely so as not to lunge at her like an overheated bull. What was it about this woman that simply the look of her aroused him to the point of pain? Never had he felt this way with any other woman. He had wanted women, took them, took and gave pleasure and proved to be so virile he was considered a miracle lover.Why? because what other men could not imagine to bestow upon the ladies he supplied.
Not grudgingly either for he did take satisfaction in giving pleasure as well as recieving it. He was not a selfish man He was confident in his masculine attraction. As many women as he had hunted and had hunted him he knew without doubt that this little beauty in the tub- who although may be difficult to win over,and his whole being delighted in the challange- would yeild to him in the end.
Purposefully he walked to the tub. He saw her tense, fear and apprehension flickering across her eyes. Her fear irritated him for some reason. He did not want her afraid. Almost angrily he stalked to the side of the tub and picked up a few items off the chair next to it.
Liz followed him with her eyes and the items in his hands. A rag, and a bar of what seemed to be soap. He turned back towards her and she saw a wicked glint in his eyes as his mouth curved in a grin.
"This will be my pleasure Liz" her name rolled of his lips like a caress and it took her a moment to realize his intent. However it was too late and he beind her, his electrifying hands gripping her neck forcing her to bend forward.
"What are you doing?" She nearly screamed and she winced when his grip tightened. He relaxed it immediately. She could feel her emotions churning within her. She was afraid and excited. She knew why she feared him yet did not know why she felt drawn to him. Like she could walk into his arms and she would be safe. It greatly disturbed her.
Yet she held still. Stiffened but held still, waiting, knowing there was nothing she could do. He must have noticed the change in her for he bent over and bought his mouth close to her ear. "Just relax my sweet i will soothe you" his voice ran across her like honey.
She heard him moving around and picking something up. She dared not turn around. Some rubbing. She almost jumped out of her skin when a cool rag with a substance on it connect with her back.
"Hush" he said softly and Liz obeyed him. Somehow she knew. Knew she would be safe tonight. She warmed to the feeling of the soapy rag moving languidly across her back. Her tensed muscles easing into soft submission her skin delighting in the cleansing.
The rag suddenly left her back and in its place a warm palm that without hesitation continued its rubbing , this time kneading, easing the tension that had returned in a matter of seconds. Suddenly Liz didn't care. She just didn't care that she was a lady who was on a pirate ship, sitting naked in a tub with the pirate captain bathing her.
She was so heated. His hands drifted under water to the small of her back, moving from one hip to the other. She shivered. His palms moved to span her waist. She gasped. They inched upward. Liz braced herself for hte final contact. She didn't know if she would cry out in pleasure when they did or in frustration because they haven't got there yet.
In the end frustration won over but she didn't even manage to sound it aloud because it wan't because he was taking his time, but because he had abandoned them completely from her body. She held the sound back though, biting her lip to mask it.
There was silence for a few minutes and Liz had the idea that he had left, without a sound. That would not have surprised her. Her emotions shocked her. It was unbelievable. How could she have acted so wanton? why didn't she fight? how could she let him touch her like that, see her like that? It was all so confusing.
She hated him for the postion he'd put her in yet she felt like she wanted him whenever he touched her. It was desire she knew. What she did not understand was how she could desire him in particular. Couls she hate someone and want them at the same time? Did he still want her like he declared before or did his withdrawl tell her he wasn't interested anymore.
She didn't know if that should relieve or disappoint her. He affected her deeply. His strong presence, his heated gaze, his electrifying touch. Her position on the ship neither pleasant nor unpleasant. She had gotten used to the beautiful sea, the gentle swaying of the ship, the commanding presence of the captain. It was seeping into her blood.
Ridiculously she thought of it as an adventure whenever she wanted to boost herself. Liz shook her head. She didn't even know where they were headed. It had completely slipped her mind. Can it be she was still in shock of what had happened? for a full week though?...she had no idea.
A fingertip touched her furrowed forehead and Liz's startled eyes jumped to twin dark liquid pools. There was no coldness, no steel or desire. She could have sworn it was the candle lighting but what looked like a tender inquiry flickered across them...a trick of the light surely.
She shook her head, trying to get her jumbled thoughts together. She couldn't believe he was still here.
"Where are we going?" she asked abruptly into the silence. She stared at him in her own silent inquiry. Max raised an amused brow then his lips twitched as if aching to form a smile.
"We are docking at Venetti port in France. We arrive on the early morrow" he answered shortly. He removed his hand from her hair where it landed from her forehead and stood. " I doubt not you can finish you bath unassisted. A new gown lays on the bed..i am afraid you will have to disregard you underthings for a duration of a time " Liz blushed a tomato red " then you may return to your cabin" the last words were spoken sharply, almost angrily.
Liz had no time to answer before the door was slamming after his retreating back. If she didn't know better she'd think this would become a habit.
Max was so frustrated and angry. She had melted in his arms, why had he not taken her? he stopped his contemplation and strode purposefully to the deck. He had seduced her, but he wanted her to try to seduce him. He wanted her to want him...he was too blind however to see he would not need to work overly much to achieve that goal.
Michael and Whimsey watched their captain stride in the opposite direction on deck, clearly in a sour mood. Michael turned to the crewman and innocently opened his palm. With a snort of disgust Whimsey set his losing wager into and huffed. Michael chuckled.
"I cannot believe he lasted that long and still going" he complained.
"Whimsey my good man every woman has her place and time. Maxwell is just abiding by it, albeit a bit moodily." Michael informed him with an amused grin.
"What about yer woman then?" Whimsey inquired.
Michael's eyes unknowingly softened as he thought of Maria. At the moment she was asleep in his bed, sated. All of a sudden the air was too chilly and he wanted to be back in her arms. His Maria's arms. He started moving toward the stairs with a determined look on his face.
"Her time and place is my own" he declared then without noticing added under his breath 'as my own is hers'
Whimsey heard nevertheless and when Michael disappeared allowed a tender smile to touch his weathered face. 'Ah me arrogent lords ye've met yer matches' and he chuckled into the darkness.